Driving along the highway in Singapore is a curiously tranquil experience. To begin with, I’m not sure why I feel so relaxed after a 12 hour night flight, but as I observe the landscape dreamily unfold it slowly becomes clear - I’m surrounded by beautiful, towering trees, lush foliage, invigorating tropical flowers and immense vegetation. In the center of a city.
I wasn't expecting it to be my first impression of this city state - known as a global center for finance, with cutting edge architecture and a culturally rich food scene. But on a recent visit I saw an entirely different side to Singapore. A very verdant one.
It encompassed vast jungle canopies over the highways, vertical planting along much of the city’s towering skyline, lush balcony garden ideas , and urban growing initiatives established within the community. I’ve been an advocate of urban gardening for the best part of 20 years, but what I saw there was on another level. So, what can we learn from the pioneering urban horticulture in Singapore to help us grow and embrace nature within a city? I spoke to Boyi Zhou , Deputy Director of the National Biodiversity Center at Singapore National Parks Board to find out more.
Solar panels are a key feature of green roofs in Singapore Singapore National Parks Board (NParks) has an ambitious plan - to transform the island state into a ‘city in nature’. This vision aims to meet a number of key environmental goals by 2030, including creating 200 hectares of skyr.